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Bridge company tearing down buildings in Southwest Detroit

Demolition site

Detroit International Bridge Co. is scheduled to remove two blighted buildings on Fort Street near its Ambassador Bridge to make way for its stalled second span.

The company began demolition Thursday of a former automotive plant at 2600 Fort St. Demolition of the second property at 2051-2065 Fort St., acquired by the company in November, is expected to begin in the coming weeks, the company said in a news release.

The contractor for the demolitions is Warren-based Den-Man Contractors Inc.

DIBC purchased and demolished three other properties on West Fort Street in 2013. The company said it has acquired more than 20 properties designated for demolition.

Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun has for years been trying to gain approval to build a six-lane, cable-stayed span adjacent (west) to the original four-lane span that opened in 1929.

Moroun has constructed some of the traffic ramps and the plaza in Detroit necessary for a new span, but has been unable to proceed because of a lack of approvals and legal wrangling.

Michigan and the Canadian government continue an attempt to build their own government-owned bridge, called the New International Trade Crossing, despite lawsuits filed by Moroun’s company. The U.S. Coast Guard issued its permit for the NITC in June, but the project remains delayed over funding issues.

DIBC’s motive for the property removal extends beyond just its desire for a new span but also to remove blight and create safer communities, Matthew Moroun, vice chairman of DIBC, said in a statement.

“Efforts in other Detroit neighborhoods are addressing residential blight, office tower redevelopment and parks and public spaces improvement,” Moroun said. “In our corner of Southwest Detroit, industrial buildings which once provided manufacturing employment and demanded products, stand instead as a testament to a by-gone industrial era. When the Ambassador Bridge has the opportunity such as today, we want other corporate citizens to see the potential of redeeming industrial properties. DIBC is a stakeholder in the city, and wants to work with the mayor’s office to make it flourish.”